Published: Nov. 26, 2006

The University of Colorado at Boulder's Council on Research and Creative Work has awarded 14 faculty fellowships for the 2007-08 academic year for studies ranging from earthquakes in California and the genetics of eye disease to the geology of early Earth and alchemy in Renaissance England.

The faculty fellowships will be conducted in such disciplines as psychology, chemistry, geology, history, engineering, biology, geography and physics, according to Russ Moore, associate vice chancellor for research. The awardees were eligible for grants-in-aid of up to $7,000 and will be released from teaching responsibilities for the academic year to pursue their research interests, he said.

The faculty awards are based on each applicant's proposal, professional record and the likelihood the research will contribute to academia and society. "We received a large number of high-caliber proposals this year, and we congratulate the winners," said Moore.

Winners include Tim Curran of psychology, Katherine Eggert and Nan Goodman of English, Carl Lineberger of chemistry and biochemistry and of JILA, Stephen Mojzsis of geology, Tad Pfeffer of civil, environmental and architectural engineering and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Robert Schulzinger of history and international affairs.

Other winners include Anne Sheehan of geology and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, David Stock of ecology and evolutionary biology, Luis Valdovino of art and art history, Mahesh Varanasi of electrical and computer engineering, Tom Veblen of geography, Mark Winey of molecular, cellular and developmental biology and Shijie Zhong of physics.

Other topics under study by faculty winners include effective communication systems in the aftermath of disasters, the ecological impacts of fires and exotic animals in South America, cultural change in the arctic and a study of banishment in 17th century New England. The grants-in-aid to the 2007-08 winners totaled $57,800, said Moore.

The CRCW was created by the university in 1935 to recognize excellence in scholarly and creative work and to give faculty alternatives to sabbatical years.

For more information on these or other CRCW awards, visit the Web at: or contact Candice Miller, director of research and information in the Graduate School, (303) 735-0982.